News
GM 26V496: 952 Silverado EV and Sierra EV Steel Wheels May Crack — Owner Letters Sep 14
General Motors is recalling 952 model-year 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV trucks because a manufacturing defect may crack the steel wheels at the disc vent holes. NHTSA lists the campaign as 26V496; GM’s number is N262556920. A cracked wheel may lead to disc separa
General Motors is recalling 952 model-year 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV trucks because a manufacturing defect may crack the steel wheels at the disc vent holes. NHTSA lists the campaign as 26V496; GM’s number is N262556920. A cracked wheel may lead to disc separation and loss of control, raising crash risk. Dealers will inspect and replace wheels as necessary, free of charge. Involved VINs became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 30, 2026. Owner notification letters are expected September 14, 2026.
Population is small. Separation risk is not. Run the VIN now — do not wait for the September 14 mailer if you own or are taking delivery of a listed 2026 Silverado EV or Sierra EV.
Sources
- NHTSA acknowledgment letter for campaign 26V496 (dated August 6, 2026; manufacturer report date July 30, 2026) — population 952; problem; consequence; remedy; letter timing; VIN searchable Jul 30; Chevy / GMC phone numbers; GM N262556920
- autoevolution coverage of the 26V496 steel-wheel recall
- NHTSA recalls / VIN lookup
Recall facts
| Field | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA campaign | 26V496 | NHTSA acknowledgment |
| GM recall ID | N262556920 | NHTSA acknowledgment |
| Vehicles | Certain 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV | NHTSA acknowledgment |
| Units affected | 952 | NHTSA acknowledgment |
| Components | Wheels; tires: temporary / emergency spare tire | NHTSA acknowledgment |
| Problem | Manufacturing defect may result in steel wheels cracking at the disc vent holes | NHTSA acknowledgment |
| Consequence | Cracked wheel may lead to disc separation and loss of control, increasing crash risk | NHTSA acknowledgment |
| Remedy | Dealers inspect and replace wheels as necessary, free | NHTSA acknowledgment |
| VIN searchable | July 30, 2026 on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA acknowledgment |
| Owner letters | Expected September 14, 2026 | NHTSA acknowledgment |
| Owner contact | Chevrolet 1-800-222-1020; GMC 1-800-462-8782; NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-888-275-9171) | NHTSA acknowledgment |
| Manufacturer report date | July 30, 2026 | NHTSA acknowledgment |
| NHTSA acknowledgment date | August 6, 2026 | NHTSA acknowledgment |
| RPO / per-model split / build window | RPO codes, Silverado/Sierra unit split, and build window are not in the acknowledgment used here — omitted | NHTSA acknowledgment (scope) |
TruckDaily take
Who this is for. Owners and shoppers of 2026 Silverado EV and Sierra EV trucks — especially anyone who has not run the VIN since July 30 — and dealers taking delivery on steel-wheel EVs.
Who should skip the shrug. Skip “only 952 trucks” as a reason to ignore the mailer. Disc separation is a loss-of-control risk, not a cosmetic wheel issue. Skip waiting for September 14 if the VIN is already searchable.
What we’d do. Plug the 17-digit VIN into nhtsa.gov/recalls now. If 26V496 / N262556920 is open, schedule the free dealer inspection and replacement before you put miles on a suspect steel wheel or spare. Do not treat the September 14 owner letter as the first useful notice.
What the acknowledgment actually says
NHTSA’s August 6, 2026 acknowledgment confirms GM notified the agency of a safety recall covering certain 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV vehicles. A manufacturing defect may crack the steel wheels at the disc vent holes. The published consequence is disc separation, loss of control, and increased crash risk.
The remedy path in the letter is straightforward: dealers inspect and replace wheels as necessary, free of charge. GM’s internal number is N262556920. VINs involved in the recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on the manufacturer report date — July 30, 2026 — weeks before the expected September 14 owner letters.
This page stays inside the acknowledgment. Per-model splits, RPO wheel codes, and production windows from secondary coverage are not verified here and are left out.
FAQ
Which trucks are in GM recall 26V496?
Certain 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV and GMC Sierra EV vehicles — 952 units total in the NHTSA acknowledgment. GM’s number is N262556920.
What can go wrong with the wheels?
A manufacturing defect may crack the steel wheels at the disc vent holes. A cracked wheel may lead to disc separation and loss of control, increasing crash risk, per the NHTSA acknowledgment.
Is the fix free?
Yes. Dealers inspect and replace wheels as necessary at no charge.
Can I check my VIN before the owner letter?
Yes. NHTSA says involved VINs became searchable on July 30, 2026. Owner letters are expected September 14, 2026. Check the VIN; do not wait for the mailer.
Who do I call?
Chevrolet customer service 1-800-222-1020; GMC customer service 1-800-462-8782; or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-888-275-9171).
Last updated September 6, 2026. Author: TruckDaily.